Get ready for an all new cat-and-mouse game. Tom & Jerry The Movie is now in theaters and available for streaming on HBO Max! A modern spin to the original Tom & Jerry cartoons, is the movie kid friendly? I’m answering that question and more in my spoiler free Tom & Jerry The Movie parents guide. While I received a screener to watch this movie for free in exchange for a review, all opinions are my own. With a PG rating that includes cartoon violence, rude humor and brief language, here’s what parents need to know about Tom & Jerry The Movie.
Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Tom & Jerry The Movie 2021: A Parents Guide
Frenemies Tom (a cat) and Jerry (a mouse) are back. However, this time they are bringing their long standing feud to the Big Apple (New York City). When Jerry decides to set up residency in an upscale hotel - the venue for the wedding of the century - chaos ensues. To get rid of Jerry, Kayla (played by Chloë Grace Moretz), an events coordinator imposter, recruits Tom to help capture Jerry. I mean, that’s what cats are supposed to do, right?! As Kayla tells Tom and Jerry “You have to stop fighting. It looks like you’ve been doing this for years.”
Add Michael Peña (as Terrence, the deputy hotel manager), Rob Delaney (as the hotel manager), Colin Jost (as Ben the groom), Pallavi Sharda (as Preeta the bride), and Ken Jeong (as the chef and baker at the hotel) to the mix, and watch as hilarity ensues!
Here’s what parents need to know before making a decision as to whether or not Tom & Jerry The Movie 2021 is appropriate for younger kids.
Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
It’s Rated PG
The movie is rated PG which means that some material in the movie might be unsuitable for younger kids. For example, it might contain some inappropriate language, very little sexual content, suggestive dialogue, and/or mild violence. As a result, parental guidance is suggested. This particular movie has cartoon violence, rude humor, and brief language. But more about that below.
Brief Language
I didn’t catch any of the characters say curse words. Instead, I heard phrases like “what a sucker,” “punk”, and one character says “I haven’t seen so many shanks since I was in prison.” Overall, the brief language is mild and I think most kids probably won’t understand the shanks reference.
Lack of Sexual Content
There isn’t any sexual content in this movie. There is a kiss between two characters but that’s the extent of it.
Cartoon Violence
This movie does contain cartoon violence so as a parent, that is something that you’ll want to be aware of. Most of the cartoon violence is between Tom and Jerry, although sometimes there are other casualties. With that being said, Tom is usually the one who gets injured. For example, Tom is thrown against the wall, electrocuted, loses a tooth, is hit with an iron, and has a garage door fall on head. There’s also a baseball bat and chainsaw used, and another scene where Tom is basically forced to put Jerry in his mouth. While it sounds gross, the scene itself is actually very comical because Jerry ends up making s’mores while he’s in there. If you’re familiar with the Tom & Jerry cartoons, you can expect more of the same in this movie.
Overall Thoughts
The movie is a hybrid of live action and animation and it’s fun to see it all come together on the big - and small - screen. Not only is it extremely funny (my family and I couldn’t stop laughing while watching it) but it’s also a movie that will likely appeal to different generations, from grandparents to grandkids. Fans of the original Tom & Jerry cartoons will also be pleased that this movie stays true to the cartoons. And if you look closely, you’ll notice other Hanna-Barbera characters make cameo appearances.
In the meantime, my son and I recently had the opportunity to participate in a virtual interview with the director of the movie, Tim Hill. You can read all about it here. And if you’re looking for free Tom & Jerry activity pages, click here.
About Tom & Jerry
One of the most beloved rivalries in history is reignited when Jerry moves into New York City’s finest hotel on the eve of “the wedding of the century,” forcing the event’s desperate planner to hire Tom to get rid of him, in director Tim Story’s “Tom and Jerry.” The ensuing cat and mouse battle threatens to destroy her career, the wedding and possibly the hotel itself. But soon, an even bigger problem arises: a diabolically ambitious staffer conspiring against all three of them. An eye-popping blend of classic animation and live action, Tom and Jerry’s new adventure stakes new ground for the iconic characters and forces them to do the unthinkable… work together to save the day.